Layers of Time
From the Barngarla sea country to a modern regenerative sanctuary.
The Barngarla People
Louth Island resides within the vast waters of the Spencer Gulf, a region traditionally cared for by the Barngarla people. For thousands of years, the Barngarla have been the custodians of the Eyre Peninsula (Galinyala) and its surrounding waters.
In our commitment to truth-telling, we commissioned a full anthropological survey of Louth Island. The findings confirmed that while the island sits within this culturally significant sea country, there is no archaeological evidence of permanent habitation, middens, or artifacts on the island itself.
We respect the Barngarla people not as historical figures of the island, but as the masters of the region's waters. We encourage our guests to learn more about their living culture through authentic, community-led experiences on the mainland.
Galinyala (Port Lincoln Region)
The Maritime Explorers
The island was charted in 1802 during the famous encounter between Matthew Flinders (English) and Nicolas Baudin (French) in these very waters. Flinders named the island after Louth in Lincolnshire, England.
This era marked the beginning of European maritime history in the Spencer Gulf, transforming the region into a vital navigational hub for the colony.
The Pastoral Era
For over a century, Louth Island served as a pastoral sheep station. Like much of Australia, the land was cleared to support agriculture. While this era was vital for the local economy, it altered the native vegetation and landscape significantly.
Remnants of the old shearing sheds and homesteads still stand today, preserved as a nod to the island's industrious past and the resilience of those who worked this isolated land.
Custodianship Today
We view our ownership of Louth Island not as a conquest, but as a responsibility. We have moved from exploitation to regeneration.
Replanting
Restoring native vegetation to stabilize soil and encourage birdlife.
Removal
Clearing invasive species introduced during the farming era.
Protection
Creating a sanctuary for the terrestrial and marine life of the Gulf.